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Sorry, You Can’t Name Your Baby ‘Voldemort’
Finland’s weirdest baby names, part II (part I here).
Firstly, hello, it’s been a while!
Finland’s YLE News reported today (Feb 7) on the list of names refused by the country’s Names Board in 2023.
In the small Nordic nation, parents wishing to give their baby an unusual name must gain approval from the Board and then from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The Board’s decisions are based on Finnish naming laws that prohibit first names that could be considered harmful to the bearer or be considered offensive. Parents are also not allowed to give their child a surname as a first name.
Last year the Board’s rejected names included:
Glitch
Jezebella
Kukkuböö
Monkeybear
Senator
Teflon
Trip
Voldemort
And it was also a ‘no’ for the name Yes
The Board accepted the following creative baby names, among others:
Ahjo (meaning Forge)
Autumnus
Kilves (Shield)
Laser
Merkkari (Marker)
Ruutu (Screen or Square)
Sopuli (Lemming)
And the Board also thought the name Winna was, er, a winner.
Whatever their parents decide to name them, Finland (still) needs babies. Some municipalities will even pay you to have and raise a child. Read more here.
What do you think about baby names being regulated? Would you consider one of these names for your child (or pet)? Let me know in the comments!
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